Calculating machine



March 12, 1946. s. CHRISTIE CALCULATING MACHINE Filed April 14, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l I N V EN TOR. Gewyc J. (b/131% March 12, 1946 G. s. CHRISTIE 2,396,249

CALCULATING MACHINE Filed April 14, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTQEAEZ 7 Mamh 12 19416} s, c |s 2,396,249

CALCULATING MACHINE Filed April 14, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z; 3&8.

mus- 77mm E I i I N VEN TOR. Geazye J Crbh'e Patented Mar. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CALCULATING MACHINE George S. Christie, Paterson, N. J.

Application April 14, 1942, Serial No. 438,888

9 Claims.

Thi invention relates'to adding and calculating machines and particularly it represents an improvement in the transfer and accumulating mechanism and in the use of rack bars in my invention disclosed in Patent No. 2,279,444, issued April 14, 1942.

An important object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanical device fo the accumulation of totals in adding and calculating machines and similar machines.

Another object of my invention is to simplify and improve the transfer mechanism used in transferring or carrying ove from one column to the next higher column.

An important object of my invention is to use auxiliary racks in conjunction with the main racks,

An ancillary object to the above is to provide an improved method of mounting the sliding racks on a commoninounting plate thereby simplifying the construction and making each et of mechanisms thinner thereby permitting a greater number of totals in one machine.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is an elevation of a part of a typical mounting plate showing three sets of racks and two complete transfer mechanisms;

Figure 2 is a section along line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section along line 33 in Fig. 1;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the positions of the elements of the transfer mechanism at three different stages of the transfer operation;

Figures 7 and 8 are front and side elevational views respectively, of the transfer finger;

Figures 9 and 10 are front and side elevational views, respectively of the keeper;

Figures 11 and 12 are front and side elevational views, respectively, of the cam rod;

Figures 13 and 14 are front and side elevational views, respectively, of the release link, and,

Figures 15 and 16 are front and side elevational views, respectively, of the catch.

Referring now to Figure 1, the three racks 2B are slidably mounted in plate 2| and may be driven in a vertical direction by the usual mechanism found in adding andcalculating machines which actuates the gears 22. The racks 29 are provided with a dove-tail 23 which fits into a groove in plate 2|, as indicated in section in Figure 2'. The racksZU are loosely held in the grooves by the dove-tails '23 and would normally fall by their own weight when released. To prevent sticking, however, there is provided alight spring 24 which is at one end fastened'to a pin 25in plate 2| and with the other end fastened to the rack 26 by means of pin 26-. The spring 24 is placed in a-groove'21 runninglongitudinallyin racks 20 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Adjacent to each of the main racks 20'there' is provided an auxiliary rack 28-which also has a dove-tail 29 slidab-le in slotstll in plate 2|. The rack 28 has" at its upper end alug 3| which is adapted to become operatively engaged with 01T- set 32 and abutment 33 of racks 291 Thus when racks 20 are moved upward more than ten teeth, the lower projection 33 of the racks 20 catches the lug 3| of racks 28 and moves same upward. The racks 28-have pawls 34 associated therewith which are spring loaded by springs 35 and which prevent racks 28 from moving downward to their bottom position.

The rod 36 is horizontally mounted in bearing 31 and is slidable in same in the horizontal direction by means of the lever 38 pivoted at 39. The

lever 38 is loaded in one direction by spring38a. The rod 36-has collars 40 which engagepins 4| fastened to the'spring loadedpawls 34 and thereby said pawls ma be disengaged from racks 28.

The transfer mechanism for transferring totals from one rack 2Uto the next higher comprises the detent 42 which has a nose Which is' held in operative engagement 'withte'tli 440i racks 20 by means of the spring 45.- Thedetent 42 is pivoted to plate 2| by means of pivot 45 and is furthermore connected through release link 41' to the transfe finger 48.. The spring 49is fastened to the release link 41 andis' engaged with the transferlfinger 48 with its other end. The one end of the release link 4! is pivoted at 50 to the detent 42 while the other end is slidably connected-to pin 5| on the transfer finger 48.

The lower end of the transfer finger 48 i connected bymeans of pivot52 to'the cam rod 53 which'is again slidably mounted to plate 2| by means of pins 54* and whichcarrieswheel 55 at its lower end.

Between the detent 42 and the cam rod 53is mounted a keeper member 56 which is pivoted to late 2| by means of pivot 51 and. is spring loaded at one end through spring 58. The spring 58 presses the upper end of the'keepermember 56 against the abutment 59'ofthe detent 42.

At the lower end of the cam rods 53 and in operative engagement with wheels 55 are mounted "a number of cams 65 which are fastened together with gears B! and are pivoted to plate 25 and driven by gears 6i and rack 62. The cams 63 are arranged so as to successively come into operative engagement with wheels 55 of the cam rod 53. The cam 55 of the digit transfer mechanism being somewhat advanced in rotation and thus engaging the wheel 55 an instant before the corresponding cam 50 of the tens transfer mechanism, which in turn is advanced in relation to the hundreds mechanism and o on.

The gears 6| are in operative engagement with the rack 62 which extends over to the right and is in engagement with gear 63. Gear 63 is connected to gear 64 which is again driven by gear 65 which is in turn operable by rack bar 65 which is held in its end position by spring 61. On the bottom side of rack 52 is a projection 68 which becomes engaged with lever 38 when rack 62 is moved to the left. By pushing the rack bar 6 3 to the left as indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, the motion will be transmitted through gears 65, 64 and 63 and will thereby give rack 62 a motion to the left. This will cause gears 6| to rotate and thereby bring cams 60 into operative engagement with wheels 55 and cam rods 53. As the rack 62 moves to the left the pin 68 will hit the upper end of lever 38 and will deflect same and pass by same without any further action. On the return, however, pin 68 will again strike the upper end of lever 38, but this time from the other side. The projection 68 will thereby deflect lever 38 in the opposite direction and the lower end of this lever will push rod 35 toward the left thereby releasing the pawls 34.

The detail construction of the transfer mechanisms and their operation is shown in various positions in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 and the details of the elements of same are shown in Figures 7 to 16. In Figure 3 is shown how a gear BI and a cam [ii] are pivoted to plate 2| by means of a pivot 69. In this figure is also shown how the wheel 55 is rotatably mounted to the cam rod 53 which is again slidably mounted upon pins 54. In Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6 the transfer mechanism is shown in four different positions. It should be particularly noted that the cam rod 53, at its lower end has a slanting abutment 19 which when the cam rod 53 is moved upward in a Vertical direction will strike the lower end H of the keeper 55 thereby releasing same from the nose '12 as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. The rise caused by cam 63 is to be the equivalent of one tooth on rack 20 plus enough additional motion to release keeper 55. In other words keeper 56 does not release detent 42 until the left rack has been moved up one tooth complete,

The operation of my invention is as follows: In an actual application of my invention a number of plates 2| may be provided one in back of the other and enabling them to be slid into mesh with the driving gears, the number of gears being equal to the separate number of totals desired. Each plate will have as many sets of racks 20 as may be required for the operation with a desired number of decimals or columns. The gears 22 are then connected to the usual mechanism of the adding or calculating machine and are driven by manual or other means in the customary manner. Thus, for instance, by striking the key marked Five in the units column the gear 22 will turn in a clockwise direction and move the units rack 24 upward five teeth. When the rack 20 arrives in this position it will be held there by detent 42 by means of nose 43 which will become imbedded in the sixth notch 44 in rack 20. To illustrate the simplest method of indicating the result, Figures 0 to 9 have been placed upon racks 20 and these may be read when in line with indicator 13. In the case mentioned the rack would have moved until the numeral 5 were in line with the indicator 13. If next the units key designated with the numeral 3 is pressed down the rack 25] will move up another three teeth and the numeral 8 will be indicated by the indicator If now the key designated with the numeral 3 in the unit column is pressed down the rack 20 will move up another three teeth and in so doing it will accomplish several things. First, as soon as the rack 20 has been moved up ten teeth, the abutment 33 will catch the nose 3| of rack 28 and will pull same along with it. Thus in the example mentioned, where the total is eleven the rack 23 will pull the rack 28 up one tooth and the pawl 34 will engage one of the teeth 14 of rack 23 and will hold same in this position. The object of racks 28 is to hold racks 2B in a position showing the total added in each column less 10, i. e., if the total additions are over 10. If thus, the total additions in one column is 11, then the rack 28 will be up one step and after the 10 has been transferred to the next higher rack, rack 20 will be held in the position by the auxiliary rack 28 so as to indicate numeral 1. In each individual case, therefore, the auxiliary racks 28 will be moved up a number of teeth equal to the sum which has been added on rack 20 in excess of 10. Simultaneously with this, the abutment '15 of rack 23 will have moved up and become engaged with the chin 16 of detent 42. As the rack 20 now moves upward, the lanting abutment 75 will push detent 42 away from its engagement with the teeth 44 of rack 20 and rack 20 will thereby be released and will fall down by its own weight as well as by the pull of the spring 24 until the abutment 32 strikes the lug 3| which, however, it should be remembered, is now held in a position which is one step up from the normal bottom position of same. Simultaneously with the above operations, the fact that the abutment 1.5 pushed detent 42 away from rack 20 also caused this motion to be transmitted through link 4! to the transfer finger 48. The transfer finger 43 thereby becomes engaged in the teeth of the next adjacent rack to the left, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. At the same time the detent 42 has rotated on pivot 46 and the upper end of keeper 56 becomes engaged with the nose 12. When in this position, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the detent 42 is locked by keeper 56 and the transfer finger 48 is engaged in the teeth of the next rack to the left which in the present example will be the Tens rack or column. In an operation similar to the pulling of the handle in the common adding machines the bar 66 is now pushed to the left and this motion is transmitted to the gears 65, 64 and 63 thereby causing rack 62 to move to the left. In so doing, rack 62 operates gears BI and cam 60 rotates and strikes wheel 55 of the cam rod 53. A described supra, the cam 65 of the Tens rack is advanced before the cam of the Hundreds rack which again is advanced before the cam of the Thousands rack and so on. Thus the cam 60 of the Tens rack will operate the cam rod 52 and the transfer finger 48 before the similar cam 59 will similarly operate the transfer finger for the Hundreds rack. When cam 60 rotates it will lift the wheel 55 and thereby slide the cam rod 53 upward a given distance. :This will give .transferrfingerzdwan upward motion sufiicient' to move. the-Tens 'rack 'up'one step. When thepressure 'on' bar 66 is released spring'fil pulls rack 66 back and the rack 62 will move to the right. The pin'88 will thereby strike theupper endofthe lever '38 and will move bar 36 to thelleft thereby lifting pawls'34 I away from theauxiliary racks 28. Thus released,

the auxiliaryracks28 will be free to drop down to their normal bottom position and arethen in the proper position for the next operation. Racks 20 are in the mean-timebeing held by detent 42 in a position indicating the total for that column less 10.

' The operation of the rack for the Tens, Hundreds, Thousands, and higher columns is identical with that described for the digit column above. When certain numerals between and 9 are set up on these racks and thereupon other numerals'are added, the'racks will move up as described supra and if the total for each rack is over ten the next rack to the left will be moved up one point, as shown above. -Rack 86 must be pushed in after an amount has been put into the racks in order to operate the'transfer. In a practical application of my device, rack- 653 may be coupled to suitable means whereby'the plate 2| may be moved to the left thus disengaging the racks 20 from gears 22.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim: 1. In a calculating machine of the character described the combination of, a plurality of principal rack bars, one for each column of digits to be added; means for independently raising the respective rack bars distances equal to the value of the digits added in the column; detent means for temporarily retaining each rack bar in its raised position representing the accumulation of the distance raised and equal to the value of the sum of. the digits added; a plurality of auxiliary rack bars, one for each of said principal rack bars, said auxiliary rack bars having a lug at one end being engageable With a similar projection on the corresponding principal rack bar, the distance between said lug of said auxiliary rack bar and said'projection on the principal rack bar being equal to ten notches of said detent means, when both rack bar are in their respective zero positions, whereby said projection on said principal rack bar will raise the auxiliary rack bar when the principal rack bar accumulates a total over ten; pawl means engageable in said amiliary rack for 'holding'same in any position to which it may be raised; a transfer mechanism whereby the adjacent rack bar of higher order is raised a distance equal to one digit when the total accumulated on one bar is ten or over, and a release mechanism operated by said transfer mechanism releasing said pawl of said auxiliary racks permitting same to drop back to zero position after the transfers have been made.

2. In a calculating machine of the character described the combination of, a plurality of principal rack bars, one for each column of digits to be added; means for independently raising the respective rack bars distances equal to the value of the digits added in the column; detent means for temporarilysretainingz each 'rack'ibar inits raised position representing the accumulation 'of the distance raised and equal to'lthe valuezof the. sum of the digits added; a plurality of auxiliary rack bars, one for each-of said principal rack bars, said auxiliaryrack barshaving a lug at one end being engageable with a similar projection on the corresponding-principal rack .bar, the distance between said lug 'ofsaid auxiliary rack bar'and said projection on the principal rack barbeing equal to ten notches of said detent means when both rack bars are in their respective zero positions, whereby said projection on said principal rack bar will raise therauxilia'ry rack bar when the principal rack bar accumulates a total equal to ten or more; pawl means engageable in said auxiliary rack for'holding same in any position to which it may be raised; a transfer mechanism operated by outside means whereby the adjacent rack bar of higher order is raised a distance equal to one digit when the total accumulated on one bar is ten or over, said transfer mechanism having a plurality of cams adjusted in progressive angular positions whereby said transfers may each be carried through successively through all the principal rack barsfrom those of lower to those of higher order, and a release mechanism operatedby said transfer mechanism releasing said pawl of said auxiliary racks permitting same to drop back to zero position after the transfers have been made.

3. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of principal rack bars; a mounting frame carrying said principal rack bars, said mounting frame being slidably mounted in the device; a plurality of driving gears'engageable with said rack bars when the mounting frame is in one end-position; detent means for retaining each rack bar in its position; a pluralit of auxiliary rack bars slidably mounted in said frame, one adjacent to and parallel with each of said principal rack bars; means whereby the principal rack bars may engage the adjacent auxiliary rack bars whereby said auxiliary rack bars are'moved long with the principal rack bars after same have been raised a given distance; disengaging means for releasing said detent means from its rack bar when same has been'raised said given distance, whereby said principal rack bar may drop free of said detent means to a position governed by said adjacent auxiliary rack bar, and a transfer mechanism whereby the next principal rack bar of higher order is raised one step.

A device of the character described comprising a plurality of mounting frames, slidably mounted in a common body; a plurality of principal rack bars slidably mounted on each of said mounting frames; a plurality of driving gears engageable one with each of said principal rack bars when the mounting frames are in one endposition; detent means for retaining each rack bar in its position; a plurality of auxiliary rack bars slidably mounted on said mounting frame, one adjacent to each of said principal rack bars; means whereby the principal rack bars will engage the adjacent auxiliary rack bars whereby same are moved along with the principal rack bars after these have been raised a given distance equal to or greater than nine notches on said detent means; disengaging means for releasing said detent means from its rack bar when same has been raised said given distance, and a transfer mechanism whereby the next principal rack bar of higher order is raised one step.

5. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of mounting frames, each individually slidable in a common body; a plurality of principal rack bars slidably mounted on each of said mounting frames; a plurality of driving gears engageable one with each of said principal rack bars when themounting frames are in one endposition; detent means for retaining each rack bar in its position; a plurality of auxiliary rack bars slidably mounted on said mounting frame, one adjacent to each of said principal rack bars; means whereby the principal rack bars will engagethe adjacent auxiliary rack bars whereby same are moved along with the principal rack bars after these have been raised a given distance greater than nine notches on said detent means; disengaging means for releasing said detent means from its rack bar when same has been raised said given distance, whereby said rack bar may drop free of said detent means to a position governed by the raise effected on said auxiliary rack bar adjacent to the falling principal rack bar, and a transfer mechanism operated by outside means whereby said mounting frames are moved until said driving gears are out of mesh with the principal rack bars and whereby said transfer mechanism simultaneously effects a progressive transfer to the next principal rack bar of higher order of any individual raise totaling more than nine notches on said detent means.

6. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of mounting frames, each individually slidable in a common body; a plurality of principal rack bars slidably mounted on each of said mounting frames; a plurality of driving gears engageable one with each of said principal rack bars when said sliding mounting frames are in one end-position, said driving gears being operated by outside means whereby the principal rack bars may be raised distances equal to the digits to be added in each column; detent means for temporarily retaining each rack bar in its raised position representing the accumulation of the distances raised and equal to the sum of the digits added; a plurality of auxiliary rack bars, one for each of said principal rack bars, said auxiliary rack bars having means engaged by similar means on the principal rack bars whereby the auxiliary rack bars are moved along with the principal rack bars after same have been raised a distance corresponding to more than ten digits; pawl means engageable in said auxiliary rack bars for holding same in any position to which it may be raised; a transfer mechanism operated by outside means whereby said mounting frames are moved until the principal rack bars are out of mesh with the driving gears and whereby said transfer mechanism simultaneously effects a progressive transfer to the next principal rack bar of higher order of any total equaling ten or more digits on any one principal rack bar; disengaging means associated with said principal rack bars whereby same are released from the detent means after being raised a distance corresponding to more than nine digits whereby the principal rack bars are free to drop back to a position determined by the relative elevation of their respective auxiliary rack bars, and a release mechanism actuated by said transfer mechanism, after the transfers have been completed, whereby said pawl means are disengaged and the auxiliary rack bars are permitted to drop back to zero position.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 where said transfer mechanism comprises a spring loaded toothed push bar; a gear train connecting said push bar with a transfer rack; a plurality of pinions pivoted on said mounting frame and being in mesh with the gear teeth of said transfer rack; a cam attached to each of said pinions, said cams being adjusted with a progressive angular displacement, and means whereby said cams may progressively actuate a transfer of totals from principal rack bars of lower to bars of higher order.

8. The combination set forth in claim 6 where said transfer mechanism comprises a spring loaded toothed push bar; a gear train; a transfer rack slidably mounted transversely across said principal rack bars and operably connected with said push bar through said gear train; a plurality of pinions pivoted on said mounting frame and being in mesh with the gear teeth of said transfer rack; a cam attached to each of said pinions, said cams being adjusted with a progressive angular displacement; means whereby said cams may progressively actuate a transfer of totals from principal rack bars of lower to bars of higher order.

9. The combination set forth in claim 6 where said transfer mechanism comprises a spring loaded toothed push-bar; a transfer rack slidably mounted transversely across said principal rack bars; a gear train connecting said push-bar to said transfer rack; a plurality of pinions pivoted on said mounting frame, one between each adjacent pair of principal rack bars, said pinions being in mesh with the gear teeth of said transfer rack; a cam attached to each of said pinions, said cams being adjusted with a progressive angular displacement; means whereby said cams may progressively actuate a transfer of totals from principal rack bars of lower to bars of higher order, and where said auxiliary rack bar release ,mechanism comprises a spring loaded lever actuated by said transfer rack, and a push rod operated by the lever whereby said pawls holding said auxiliary rack bars are released by the return motion of said transfer rack.

GEORGE S. CHRISTIE. 

